Family Access Programs

Engage all of your senses in the Penn Museum’s Family Access Programs. Designed for visitors with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families, our multisensory accessible offerings use role play, storytelling, movement, and touch to bring the lives of the ancients to life.

Archaeology in the A.M.

Designed for teens and young adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities, Archaeology in the A.M. pairs the lives of the ancients with making new friends. Participants in this new social program are encouraged to interact with peers through a series of multimodal drop-in activities in the first hour, with the second hour featuring an art-making workshop. A social networking space for parents and family friends will also highlight various community service organizations. A designated quiet space with dimmed lighting and fidget toys will be accessible throughout each event, and a limited number of noise-reducing headphones will be available to borrow. See below for upcoming dates and themes.

Archaeology in the A.M. is free with Museum admission, with special discounts available: ACCESS cardholders receive a discounted admission price of $2.00 per person for up to four visitors, and guests who register in advance for Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day beginning August 15 get free admission to the Museum (and this program) on September 22, 2018.

Designed for teens and young adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities, Archaeology in the A.M. pairs the lives of the ancients with making new friends through interactive drop-in activities.

Upcoming Events:

Visit Resources

Customizable Visual Schedule

Use our Customizable Visual Schedule to plan your field trip together with your students. Preview the sensory-friendly aspects of our galleries and explore our collection, and then cut and paste your itinerary into a checklist for your students to use on their visit. Click here to download.

Sensory-Friendly Map

Identify spaces in the Museum that are quiet, less crowded, and dimly lit by using our Sensory-Friendly Map. Click here to download.